M&S dresses for success by choosing food over fashion November 9, 2016 As Marks & Spencer announces its turnaround plan, now is a great time to analyse how the retailer has reached this point, and whether a revival is possible. M&S reported falling sales and profits in the six months to the end of September and said it will close more clothing and home stores, and convert many [...]
As Buckingham Palace prepares for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday, here are some of the worst tributes on offer April 18, 2016 Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 90th birthday this year, and the whole corporate world is clamouring to celebrate it with her. As the nation gears up to wish her maj a happy birthday, UK retailers are also cashing in on the moment in history. Affordable Accessories Affordable jeweller Signet is patriotically promoting products at its Ernest & [...]
City Moves for 8 March 2017 – who’s switching jobs? March 8, 2017 Today's City Moves cover legal eagles, energy and financial planning. Take a look at these movers and shakers: Linklaters Global law firm Linklaters has appointed Andy Bruce global head of real estate. Andy, who is currently head of Linklaters’ UK Real Estate practice, succeeds Yves Moreau, who has held the global position since 2011. Andy [...]
Marks & Spencer’s share price climbs as chief executive Marc Bolland leaves and Steve Rowe replaces him as trading slumps again January 7, 2016 Marks & Spencer's share price climbed this morning, after revealing chief executive Marc Bolland is leaving the company after yet another period of poor performance. Bolland will be succeeded by Steve Rowe, executive director of general merchandise. He will remain as chief executive and on the board until 2 April, and will remain "available" to Rowe during the handover [...]
The House of Lords lauds diversity with a new power list of the top 100 business leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds April 27, 2016 If there's one thing the City is in dire need of, it's diversity. That's why a Westminster peers have grouped together to bring us a power list of the top 100 business leaders from ethnic minority groups. The top 100 most influential BAME (black, asian and minority ethnic) people in business were lauded in the house of [...]
Consumers wasted a whopping £13bn of edible food in 2015 January 10, 2017 Consumers threw out £13bn – 7.3m tonnes – worth of perfectly edible food in 2015. That generated 19m tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to those generated by one in four cars on UK roads, according to food waste reduction charity Wrap. However, 60 per cent of us believe we waste either no food or hardly any. Wrap has built off its work with [...]
Market close: FTSE holds steady, but Glencore leads the commodities sector down March 29, 2016 The FTSE 100 clocked a so-so first day back in the office after Easter, remaining unchanged at 6,105. However, there was more than just leftover Easter eggs for traders to sink their teeth into. Commodities giants were left bruised after a note from Barclays warned that the sector could be in for a fresh rout. [...]
This is the most popular brand in the UK (and it’s not even from here) January 19, 2017 Aldi and Lidl have topped YouGov's ranking for the most popular British brands, beating well-heeled rivals John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Every week last year YouGov asked a group of consumers whether they had heard good or bad news about the biggest brands in Britain – and the German immigrants came out on top. Read more: Aldi bags [...]
City A.M. Unregulated podcast: Smoothie operator – meet the man behind the Nutribullet October 19, 2016 Gordon Black is the man behind best-selling clean eating craze the Nutribullet – and the richest retail tycoon you've never heard of. He joins the team from Yorkshire to tell the story of his family's business, Peter Black, and explain how it became one of Marks & Spencer's largest suppliers – as well as when to keep a business in the family, and [...]
Brace for “hard rebalancing” of UK economy in 2017 January 23, 2017 The fall in the pound will result in a “significant readjustment” of the UK economy away from consumer spending and towards exports, regardless of the results of the Brexit negotiations. Economists at Ernest & Young says UK exports will increase by as much as 3.3 per cent this year, and 5.2 per cent in 2018, [...]